Root Canal Therapy

February 18, 2016 By

Root canal therapy is often the best option we have for restoring a damaged or infected tooth. This comfortable, advanced procedure allows us to save compromised teeth without extracting them. It can relieve your pain, protect your tooth, and even save your smile.

Performed in the comfort of our office, root canal therapy can be used to restore teeth suffering from several different issues, including the following:

Abscess or infection

Deep decay in the pulp

A faulty crown

Cracks or chips in the tooth

Injury or severe trauma

Dr. Wilkinson has the knowledge and experience necessary to provide thorough and effective root canal therapy. The treatment is usually completed in just one or two visits, and due to the use of local anesthetic, it can be a completely comfortable experience for any patient. After the therapy is complete, a custom dental crown will be placed on the tooth for protection as well as a pleasing appearance.

How it Works

Root canal therapy (also known as endodontic therapy) treats the inside of a tooth. Beneath the white enamel of your teeth, there is a hard layer called the dentin. Beneath the dentin, there is soft tissue filled with blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue. This soft tissue, known as the pulp of the tooth, helps the roots of the tooth grow during the development stage (i.e., childhood). However, the pulp is not vital to a tooth’s health once the tooth has fully developed. So, if the pulp of your tooth has become inflamed, infected, injured, or otherwise damaged, we can use root canal therapy to alleviate your pain and save your tooth.

During the treatment, your tooth’s pulp will be removed so that we can clean and disinfect the inside of the tooth. Then, we will fill the tooth with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha, seal the tooth, and add a custom dental crown for protection and aesthetics. The crown is critically important, because it will prevent the root canal from becoming re-contaminated by bacteria in the mouth, which could cause a new infection.

After the treatment, your tooth will be pain-free. It will look like your other teeth and function like your other teeth, so you should care for it just as you care for your other teeth.

What to Expect

Although root canals have a bad reputation, in many cases, they are no more painful than a routine filling. With our modern technology and effective anesthesia, we’re able to ensure a comfortable experience. Feel free to ask us any questions you have about the procedure beforehand, especially if you’re feeling nervous. A lack of information is a common cause of fear, so learning more about the process may alleviate your apprehension. Finally, remember that root canal therapy is used to relieve pain and save teeth, not to cause you more pain.

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For more information on root canal therapy and other services offered by Wilkinson Dental, please contact us today by calling 417-708-0556 or using our online contact form. We would be happy to discuss your options, answer any questions you might have, and schedule your first appointment.